Dalton State Falls To Top Seed In Round Of 16 At NAIA Tournament In Kansas City

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Dalton State had four players score in double figures, but it wasn't enough as #1-seed William Penn (Iowa) squeaked out a 68-64 OT win in the Round of 16 of the NAIA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium on Friday night.

Dalton State came out aggressively from the opening tip, gaining the initial possession and hitting the boards with ferocity.

They would have second chance opportunities, but could not get anything to fall going 0-12 on field goal attempts to start the game. William Penn could do no better thanks to a swarming Roadrunner defense. It would be close to three minutes into the game before the first score of the contest, a three-pointer from Akim Saintil of William Penn.

Penn would add two more buckets for a 7-0 lead with 13:36 remainnig, but Dalton State did not panic. The Roadrunners would get on the board shortly after and begin to battle back. Even though they were down, Coach Ingle's strategy of slowing the pace of the game and limiting possessions was working. With 4:22 left, a fade away from the top of the key fromIsaiah Box would tie the game at 22-22.

The hot shooting Statesmen would quickly regain the lead, but Dalton State would tie it again at 24-24 thanks to Reed Dungan. Penn would then go on a 7-0 run and looked to enter the half with a double-digit lead, but a strong defensive stand followed by a Box three-pointer at the buzzer cut the lead to four at the half, 34-30.

First Half Trends: Ties 2, WPU 0, DS 2;   Gain Lead 2, WPU 1, DS 1;   Largest Lead WPU 7, DS 1

The Roadrunners would start the second half of play on a 12-3 run to get the lead, 42-37. Dalton State would continue to limit the possessions in the game, frustrating the Statesmen. The Birds would be the one controlling the game in the second half and held the lead for the majority.

William Penn would have spurts and never let the Roadrunners get away. Penn would take the lead back with 5:29 remaining after two Terrell Thompson free throws, but Dalton State would answer with a 6-0 run to go up by five, 56-50. with 3:26 left.

Down the stretch, Carnilious Simmons and Reed Dungan would foul out leaving the Roadrunners without their leading rebounder and top two scorers. The rest of the team would step up for their teammates. Mon'Darius would take the ball for Dalton State and with the Roadrunners down two he would hit the lane and draw a foul. He would hit both shots from the line to tie it at 60-60 with eight seconds left.

Penn would take the ball and storm down the court. They would miss the shot, but a rebound and put back would give the Statesmen a 62-60 lead with one second left. It looked as if the game would end there, but Dalton State heaved the ball down court on the inbounds to Aaron Burress who drew the foul with 0.2 on the clock. The freshman would go to the line and hit both shots to tie the game at 62-62 and force overtime.

Second Half Trends: Ties 3, WPU 1, DS 2;   Gain Lead 6, WPU 3, DS 3;   Largest Lead WPU 5, DS 5

The Roadrunners would have a couple of good looks to get on the board first, but could not the the ball to drop. William Penn would grab the lead after D'Angelo Allen hit 1 of 2 from the charity stripe. Dalton State would grab the lead right back after two Black free throws, but the JC Washington would follow a miss on the next possession to give the Statesmen the lead once again with 1:31 left.

Benat Hevia would have his drive blocked on the next possession and give Penn the ball back. Thompson would go back to the line and hit the first to put Penn up by two, 66-64. Thompson would miss the second and the rebound would fall right in the hands of Black, but Antonio Foster would run in from behind and tip the ball out of his hands to give the Statesmen the possession.

Corbin Medley would collect the foul and hit both of his shots from the line to put Penn up by four. A last ditch effort from the Roadrunners would come up short as William Penn advanced to the Round of 8 with the win, 68-64.

Overtime Trends: Ties 1, WPU 0, DS 1;   Gain Lead 2, WPU 1, DS 1;   Largest Lead WPU 4, DS 1

Dalton State ends their season at (25-9 overall) with the loss, while William Penn (Iowa) improves to (29-4 overall) with the win and advances to play Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) in the Round of 8. Mon'Darius Black led the way for the Roadrunners with 17 points and six rebounds. Aaron Burress added 12 points and six rebounds of his own. All-American Carnilious Simmons and 1st Team All-Conference selection Reed Dungan were limited by foul trouble, but still notched 10 and 11 points respectively. Simmons added seven boards to the stat line.

Corbin Medley led the Statesmen with 14 points going 4-7 from behind the arc. JC Washington had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Dominique Shaw added 11 points and 6 rebounds.